Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Federal Land Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House reopens debate opposing presidential monument designations; members split over rhetoric and scope
Summary
Representative Michael Noel moved to uncircle HCR 17 on March 5, 2010, prompting lengthy debate. Supporters said the resolution warns against large monument withdrawals that reduce state trust land revenue; opponents criticized inflammatory language and urged a narrower approach. The transcript records debate but no final vote.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House revisited and uncirculated House Concurrent Resolution 17 on March 5, reopening a contentious floor debate over the state's opposition to potential presidential national monument designations in Utah.
Representative Michael Noel, the sponsor, framed HCR 17 as a message to the federal government opposing unilateral monument designations that he said remove access to state trust lands and economic resources. He cited the 1996 Grand Staircase‑Escalante designation as an example of lost revenues — "It cost the State Trust Lands billions of dollars," Noel said — and argued the Legislature should send a clear signal against similar actions.
Critics on the floor said the resolution's language was overbroad and inflammatory. Representative Litvak called parts of the draft "inflammatory" and said phrases such as "mere stroke of presidential pen" and "coronation" were exaggerated. Other members said the leaked federal planning documents were preliminary and urged a more targeted, carefully worded approach.
Debate covered federal statutes and processes, including references on the floor to the Antiquities Act and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and whether a congressional process would be a more appropriate route than a presidential proclamation. Supporters argued the resolution is an important message to Washington; critics said it risked undermining constructive, bipartisan engagement and suggested refining the language.
As of the end of the House transcript for March 5, debate was ongoing and no final recorded floor vote on HCR 17 appears in the provided transcript.
What's next: The resolution had been circled earlier and was uncirculed for floor debate; the transcript ends during sponsor summation and does not record a final vote. Further action, including potential amendment or a recorded vote, is not captured in this transcript.
